Review: 'New Year's Eve'

New Line Cinema

The poster for New Year’s Eve features not just eighteen names but eighteen photos of each of the films major stars and because of this it is clear that the film will rely heavy on just the presents of these actors. The problem is that five minutes into the film, or even sooner, it is obvious that this is a film that not only relies on a big name cast but this is all that it does. New Year’s Eve may bring some of the biggest names working today into one film but poor plots, dialogue and characters cause it to quickly become one big, annoying mess.

Let me try to explain New Year’s Eve’s so called plot. Recently appointed Vice President of the Time Square Alliance, Claire Morgan (Hillary Swank), is in charge of the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop but things don’t go has planned when the ball breaks down and she has to call in legendary electrician Kominsky (Hector Elizondo). After quitting her Job as a secretary at Adhern Records, Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer) offers a bike messenger by the name of Paul (Zac Efron) tickets to the record company’s Masquerade Ball if he helps her complete her list of New Year’s resolutions. Fifteen year old Hailey (Abigail Breslin) wants to be in Time Square at midnight with Seth (Jake T. Austin), a boy that she is interested in, but her mother Kim (Sara Jessica Parker) won’t allow it. Randy, a man that is disgusted with New Year’s Eve, gets stuck in an elevator with backup singer Elise (Lea Michele). Stan (Robert De Niro) is in the hospital has he is in a losing battle with cancer but refuses chemotherapy. Amiee (Halle Berry), a nurse at the hospital, stays with him during the night.

Super star musician Jenson (Jon Bon Jovi) makes sure that his ex-fiancé Laura (Katherine Heigl), a chef, is hired to cater the event he is performing at so that he can try to win her back. Sam (Josh Duhamel), an employee at Adhern records, debates on whether or not he should meet up with a woman that he met on New Year’s Eve one year prior. Expecting couple, Griffin (Seth Myers) and Tess (Jessica Beal) compete with another expecting couple, James (Til Schweiger) and Grace (Sarah Paulson), after the hospital announces that the first couple to deliver a baby in the New Year will receive twenty-five thousand dollars.

You are probably wondering if these plots are related in some way or not. They are connected by the tiniest of details. Connections such as a women in one situation is the daughter of a man in a different situation or a friend from one situation is a friend to someone in a different situation or a man in one situation is a brother to a women in a different situation. As you have probably already noticed, these are relationships that are as basic and uninteresting as the plots they are a part of.  With all its separate plots that really don’t have anything to do with one another, New Year’s Eve would have been better off as a mini-series made for television.

The handful of different situations is not the only reason New Year’s Eve would fit better on the small screen as it features sitcom-like dialogue. It tries to be so clever and funny with almost every line but fails miserably and quickly becomes cringe worthy. Everything is explained and becomes one of those movies that says so little by saying so much. So I guess my comparison to a sitcom is not fare to the good sitcoms. If New Year’s Eve were a sitcom it would be one that would last maybe a couple of episodes or wouldn’t even be picked up by a network.

The dialogue is hard to take but the characters are just as bad. If this film was judged by how consistent it is, it would receive an A+ grade as its plot (plots), dialogue and characters are equally basic. I understand that it is a romantic comedy and won’t feature Tarantino or Coen Brothers-like characters but does every one of them have to be so one note? These characters have one goal in mind and show one emotion if any.

There are several characters that are not needed but there is one character in particular that goes by the name of Piper’s Mom (Beth Kennedy) that is strictly used for comic relief but could not be less humorous. Her stalking or spying ways are so out of place and unnecessary that she is by far the most annoying character of the film which is quite an accomplishment. When describing the cast members, ‘celebrity’ could be used rather than ‘actor’ for most of them but there are three Academy Award winners among the cast so it would have been nice to see this talent given at least a speck of something to work with. For example, Robert De Niro is in a hospital bed for a majority of his screen time and the most interesting thing about Hillary Swank’s character is that she is afraid of heights.

If you are looking for a film that is semi-cute and fluffy and do not want to give much thought to it than maybe you will find value in New Year’s Eve but there are plenty of semi-cute and fluffy movies out there that are much better. The current film industry is all about dollar signs and because of this movies that feature big name casts and not anything else like this one does will continue to be made as long as they make money. So I guess I am grateful that Bon Jovi sings in this one but my hope is that ‘Labor Day’ will offer much more.

Grade: D-                                  

Review: 'Django Unchained'

The Weinstein Company 

Director Quinton Tarantino has managed to deliver some of the most memorable films during the past twenty years. He is one of the most creative, daring directors working today and his most recent film Django Unchained is no exception as it is one of the most original, entertaining and interesting films of the year.  Tarantino’s style of filmmaking, more specifically his use of violence is seen throughout Django Unchained but is handled and presented in way that hasn’t been seen in any of his previous films. With that said though, Tarantino once again offers a film that is as daring as it is well-crafted and with out a doubt will be something that will not soon be forgotten.

In Django Unchained, bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), formally a dentist in Germany, is looking for a group of murderers that are known as the Brittle brothers when he encounters Django (Jamie Foxx), a slave that is being transported by his new owners. Because he has seen the Brittle brothers before, Dr. Shultz needs Django to recognize them so that he can kill them. Django agrees to help Dr. Schultz when he is offered temporary freedom in exchange. The two men are able to track down the Brittle brothers and successfully kill them which leads Dr. Schultz to free Django for good and he begins to work with him as a bounty hunter. When working together, Django reveals that he has a wife by the name of Broomhilda (Kerry Washington) that was also sold as a slave. Dr. Shultz and Django later find out that Broomhilda was sold to Mississippi plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). In an effort to get his wife back, Django along with Dr. Schultz travel to Candie Land (the name of Calvin’s ranch) disguised as two slavers interested in purchasing a slave from Candie.

Django Unchained is similar to past Tarantino films in terms of its vengeance plot. With Django being out for vengeance and to get his wife back, this type of story shares similarities with Kill Bill and Inglourious Bastards. Where Django Unchained differs from these two films is that one major motive of Django is his love for his wife. Unfortunately though, Django is not given enough emotion to make this motive or relationship compelling or all that interesting. When Broomhilda was being treated badly, all that was shown from Django was him going to his gun or becoming somewhat angry. More emotions other than anger would have caused for a much more intriguing character.

The films dialogue is like nothing that Tarantino has done before. Tarantino is a master with words and his films are always dialogue heavy. Django Unchained still features plenty of dialogue but does not have the long conversations or monologues between characters. Also absent from the film is the quick fire dialogue that is a common occurrence in a Tarantino film. Django Unchained ‘s less sharp and drawn out dialogue works well though with the character’s relationships that are on display and their feeling for one another. The reason it fits so well is because it allows tension to build and like the dialogue, this tension is equally important. With a running time of over two and a half hours, the meaningful dialogue along with its structure and pacing that allows the tension to thicken becomes very intriguing and causes for this long running time to not be an issue.

Tarantino has always made films that feature plenty of violence. The body counts are normally high and blood is always shed in an artsy, quirky way that has become a signature style of Tarantino’s. Even before watching Django Unchained I knew that violence would play a major role and I was right but nothing from past Tarantino films could have prepared me for the violence that this film featured. The quirky, blood bath violence was still there and in some ways heavier than ever before. This primarily is seen when Django is doing the killing (who happens to rack up quite a body count). In these moments, blood is shed, and shed and then shed some more as it completely takes over a scene at times. This is the type of violence that we are used to seeing in a Tarantino film and is meant for entertainment purposes.

The other type of violence that the film features is a very serious violence that has never been used by Tarantino at the level that it is in Django Unchained. This violence occurs when slaves are being beaten, killed or even fighting each other. These moments are presented in a much different way than the other violent moments that I previously described. The hate and pure evilness that is driving this violence makes it clear that these scenes are not to laugh at and are to be taken seriously. These scenes are very hard to watch but they help in showing what kind person Calvin Candie is and what kind of person Dr. Schultz is becoming. Candie is a horrific man which is seen in how he treats slaves. As Dr. Shultz sees what Candie does to slaves, he realizes how horrific both slavery and Candie really are. Without this violence, it may be hard to see who these characters really are.  

Tarantino has always been criticized for how freely he uses violence but with Django Unchained he clearly shows that he knows how to handle violence with care. The clear separation of this violence and the way it is handled is Tarantino’s greatest accomplishment in this film and arguably his entire career. If any director were to do this it would be Tarantino as he is always willing to push the envelope and create a work that in some ways has never been done before. Because of this he is a step above the rest in his field and Django Unchained is just the latest example of this.   

Grade: A-            

Guest Review: Safety Not Guaranteed

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

"Wanted: Somebody to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. P.O. Box 91 Ocean View, WA 99393. You'll get paid after we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have only done this once before."

I never thought a movie based on a fake newspaper classified ad could be so endearing.  When I first saw the trailer for Safety Not Guaranteed I immediately got on my iPad and added it to my Netflix queue. That's how excited I was to see it. Not only was it something of a dream cast for me, including Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation), Jake M. Johnson (New Girl), and Mark Duplass (director: Cyrus and Jeff, Who Lives at Home and Actor: The League), but it also had a killer trailer featuring a comical sci-fi plot. It simply had everything going for it. After two viewings and thorough examination, it's safe to say that Safety Not Guaranteed lived up to my lofty expectations.

Safety Not Guaranteed is set in the picturesque, but dreary Pacific Northwest. A place often tied to mystery and intrigue, think D.B. Cooper and Bigfoot, here it is home to a potential time traveler.  Darius (Plaza) is interning for a Seattle magazine when Jeff (Johnson), a featured writer at the magazine, pitches an article about a man in Ocean View, WA who claims he needs a partner to travel through time with him. Darius and another intern named Arnau, an awkward college student, both volunteer to help Jeff write the piece and the threesome head out to Ocean View to find author of the classified ad.

Finding the time traveler isn't much of a problem, but gaining his trust is. Darius finds out that he works at a local grocery store and asks around to find out that his name is Kenneth and that he is quite eccentric. With this information, Jeff decides to go to Kenneth's home and inquire about the classified. Kenneth senses Jeff's disingenuous intentions and runs him off his property.  From this failure, it is decided that Darius will be the group's representative for dealing with Kenneth. Darius and Kenneth develop an amazing connection and the group gets more than enough material for their story.



Along the way, the audience finds out that Jeff's real motive for coming to Ocean View is not to write Kenneth's time travel story, but to rekindle a past flame that he had in high school. The woman from the past is named Belinda and she still lives in town. Jeff is apprehensive about meeting her at first but falls deeply for her.

The last quarter of the movie is packed with momentum and leads to a magical ending. Jeff is sure to deliver one of the best articles the magazine will ever see. This is very much a character driven movie, focusing on the relationships that each of them have or have had. Kenneth and Jeff are both defined by their past relationships. Darius and Arnau are defined by the lack there of. Belinda's actions can be traced to her past as well.

The performances are all solid but Duplass' stands out. As delirious as he seems, Kenneth feels like a character you could actually meet in real life. Keeping this character believable is a monumental achievement because it is essential to the final outcome of the movie.  Plaza and Johnson prove that they are both worthy of moving from television to film. Plaza's understated style meshes perfectly with Johnson's more abrasive personality.

Safety Not Guaranteed, at face value at least, seems to be a movie about time travel. It's actually about much more than that. It's a movie about what it means to be a human and have a meaningful relationship. Every time that we let someone in close to us, we do so knowing that the person we are letting in could hurt us at any time. Darius puts herself out there for Kenneth and she is reciprocated with affection from him. Jeff decides that he is ready to settle down after a life of bachlordom with Belinda, but he gets shut down. There is no protection from heartbreak; safety is not guaranteed.

A-

• The scene where Darius meets Kenneth is perfect. I could watch that sequence 100 times. When she puts the can on the shelf without looking is too much.
• There will never be enough time travel movies.
• "Why are there flames on your laptop." "It's a gaming laptop. It's really fast."
• My summary is intentionally brief, it'd be a more coherent review if I added more, but if you want to know more, just watch the movie.

Review: 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Even before the Lord of the Rings trilogy concluded in 2003, it was inevitable that a film adaption of J.R.R. Tolkien’s other middle earth tale, The Hobbit would also find its way to the big screen and now the nine year wait is now over as The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has arrived. What was not foreseen though was the problems that were had to even get the film in production. Financial problems at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, one of the film’s distributers, caused several delays for it to go into production. Because of these delays, director Guillermo del Toro left the project. Producer and writer of the film, Peter Jackson, Academy Award winning director of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, replaced del Toro and now here we are. Shades of Jackson’s first trilogy are seen throughout The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, both enhancing and hindering the film.

 Seen as an elderly man in The Lord of the Rings, A much younger Bilbo Baggins is featured in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey as the story takes place sixty years before the events that transpire in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The film begins though with the same older Bilbo (Ian Holm) writing what took place to lead to his adventure. He explains that the King of Erebor, the Dwarf Thror, had acquired a massive amount of gold. These riches tough would soon attract Smaug the dragon, who forces all dwarfs out of Erebor. Young Bilbo (Martin Freeman) comes into the picture when Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) and a group of dwarfs led by Thror’s grandson Thorin (Richard Armitage) recruit him to be groups ‘burglar’. The reason that he is the desired choice for this position is because as a hobbit, Bilbo has the ability to sneak around without being heard or seen. Bilbo is first reluctant but then realizes that he cannot pass up the adventure and accepts the group’s offer. The group’s mission is to defeat Smaug, take back the gold and reclaim their home, the city of Erebor.

I do not want to make the focus of this review on how The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey compares to The Lord of the Rings trilogy but it is difficult not to when there are so many similarities that both hurt and help the film. One thing in general that sets the film back at times is that there is a feeling of déjà vu. Now this is not big complaint, as I did find elements from the first trilogy that I really enjoyed but as far as characters, dialogue, scenery and the courage of a hobbit theme goes there is really nothing new and can cause for the lose of the audience’s attention.

With a running time of around 2 hours and 45 minutes, the films length is similar to all three films from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The length of both The Two Towers and The Return of the King did not seem to be a problem as much as it did in The Fellowship of the Rings and now The Hobbit. The reason that The Hobbit’s running time is too long and the film becomes drawn out is due to several scenes going on and on. One scene in particular featuring Bilbo and Gollum starts out to be a very promising moment in the film as it is very entertaining but then it begins to feel that it will never end as it becomes much longer than it needs to be. With scenes running long or not needed at all, Jackson’s decision to adapt a single book into three films can be questioned. I have not read the book but it appears that two or maybe even one film would make for a much more focused, compelling story.

With all that said though, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is still a film that I would willingly return to believe it or not. Despite its long running scenes and inability to create an identity of its own, The Hobbit still offers plenty of enjoyment. This has a lot to do with the films titular character, the hobbit Bilbo Baggins. I really enjoyed all hobbits featured in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and a younger Bilbo from this film brings an even higher level of enjoyment. In the journey that he partakes in, Bilbo’s back is always up against the wall. On top of that, everyone, besides Gandalf, believes he is of no value. This causes Bilbo to constantly fight an up-hill battle and with Freeman fitting nicely into the quirky, frantic ways of the character along with the way that Jackson handles him, the film is at its best when Bilbo is the primary focus. Because of this it would have been nice to see him more as there are a couple of long stretches where he is nowhere to be found.

If anything in The Hobbit is a direct copy of The Lord of the Rings it is the music. Howard Shore’s iconic music from the trilogy is heard throughout the film. It is such a great score, so great that it would probably be considered a crime not to reuse it. You may remember from the trilogy, a certain piece of music that was used when the ring was put into focus and sure enough, when the ring becomes a part of The Hobbit so does this same chilling but beautiful piece of music.

Speaking of the ring, it also had a brief but intriguing role in the film. Obviously, it was a major aspect of the trilogy and it looks like it will also play some type of role in the next two films. This is where the intrigue and curiosity of what is to come is at. I guess I could read the book and find out exactly how the ring is worked into the story but I think I will let the my curiosity build for a year and find out more when The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is released next December.

Grade: B-                

Rank 'Em: Christmas Edition

It is that time of year again! The time of year when Rudolph’s nose lights up, Charlie Brown finds the real meaning of Christmas and just about every possible Santa Claus origin story is told. As we are just one week away from Christmas day, it has become nearly impossible to change the television station without finding a Christmas movie or special on. I decided since avoiding the holiday entertainment is not an option that there is no better way to discuss it all then to rank it all (5 of them that is).

Before I get into the list I have created, let me first explain how I went about it. First of all I want to say that these rankings are my top five favorite Christmas films so if you are looking for a list absent of bias  than you may want to go back to your search engine of choice and find a different list as I let nostalgia be by guide, opening the door for plenty of bias. I figured since it is the holiday season, a time that is often associated with feelings of nostalgia, that it may be acceptable to momentarily set the more critical lens aside. Who knows, maybe something about my top five will take you back to your childhood or remind you of a special holiday moment. This list also includes both Christmas movies and specials. I define specials as any feature that is not full length, originally aired on television or a direct to video release. I think the rest is pretty self-explanatory so without any further adieu, I give you my top five Christmas movies or specials.

1.Elf: This is a film that would most likely find its way towards the top of my favorite comedies list if I had one as I find something new to laugh at each and every time I watch it. In Elf, Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrell), after years of believing he is an actual elf, is finally told that he is not an elf but a human. After this revelation, Buddy travels to New York City to find his father, Walter Hobbs and the adventure that ensues couldn’t be any more enjoyable. The thing that makes Elf such a memorable Christmas movie is a solid character, Buddy the Elf. Buddy is new to the human world and this is where the humor stems from. Buddy is as charming as he is naïve as he always strives to cheer a person up. Like Children do, Buddy believes that the holidays are a time to be joyful, something that adults forget to do in the midst of the hectic holiday season and because of this he is the perfect character for a major theme of the film. Its other major theme is the importance of staying true to oneself and that everyone has a purpose which is seamlessly combined this theme with the holiday message by Director John Favreau and writer David Berenbaum. 

2. The Santa Clause: I remember watching The Santa Clause in theaters for the first time when I was just five years of age and just being fascinated from start to finish. The thing that really wowed me the most was the shown transformation of Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) into Santa Clause. The way that they showed him gradually gain weight and acquire white facial hair blew five year old me away. Even though I still find that to be a notable aspect of the film, after several years have passed and advances in technology have been made, I can’t say that I am as still in complete aw like I once was. The transformation of Calvin becoming a much more caring father and person is what I find most impressive now as it is the realistic counterpart to the fantasy transformation of Scott Calvin becoming Santa Claus. Oh, and yeah, Tim Allen is hilarious. With his sarcastic, somewhat cynical comedic style, Allen makes for an enjoyable Scott Calvin but also a fresh take on Santa Claus.

  

3. It’s A Wonderful Life: A close resemblance to A Christmas Carol, It’s A Wonderful Life tells the story of George Baily (James Stewart). On Christmas Eve, discouraged from financial and family troubles, George feels that the world will be better without him so he decides to end his own life but before he has the chance, his guardian Angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers) comes to earth to show him how the world would be if he never existed. As far as impact and legacy goes when it comes to holiday films, It’s A Wonderful Life is the granddaddy of them all. It’s compelling narrative along with its relatable, heartfelt characters makes It’s A Wonderful Life hard not to love. Stewart, gives a grade A performance as he makes it impossible to take your eyes off him. George is a character that is seen at the lowest of lows and the highest of highs which Stewart effortlessly moves from one to the other. The sound of his voice is enough to have me sold as I could listen to Stewart talk all day.

4. A Charlie Brown Christmas: What better way to share the frustrations of the commercialism of Christmas than through the eyes of Charlie Brown. As far as popularity goes, A Charlie Brown Christmas is the It’s A Wonderful Life of the Television arena. In this made for television special, Charlie Brown is fed up with the how Christmas has become nothing but dollar signs. Charlie Brown agrees to direct the schools Christmas play after Lucy suggest that if he were to get more involved, happiness may follow. Things just get worse though, as he has no control of any of the plays performers. As Charlie Brown really starts to wonder what the true meaning of Christmas is, Linus reads a Bible passage from the book of Luke, verses 8 through 14.  Verses 10 and 11 read “And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord”. It is really cool to see this message of what Christmas really is in such a popular Christmas special.

5. Annabelle’s Wish: You will find the previous four films I have recognized on several different rankings but Annabelle’s Wish is one that you will really have to dig deep to find on another list. Annabelle’s Wish tells the story of Annabelle, a calf born on Christmas Eve that wants nothing more than to be one of Santa’s reindeer. If there ever was enjoyment of something based solely on nostalgia, it is Annabelle’s Wish. This Christmas special originally aired on FOX in the mid 90’s but I watched for the first time on home video. I remember enjoying it immensely and returning to it year after year. Looking back at my viewing history of holiday movie and specials, Annabelle’s wish is one of the first to come to mind so I felt that it would be wrong not to include it in my top five.

Now it’s your turn to give your opinion. What are your top five Christmas movies or specials? What do agree with in my rankings? What do you disagree with?   

Review: 'Killing Them Softly'

The Weintstein Company

What is America? Is it a country that is united? Can an American say that they are a part of a community, the community that is the United States of America? Or is America just one big Business? These are questions that are put into focus and answered in Killing Them Softly. As it looks at America through eyes of organized crime, Killing Them Softly uses its lead character, Jackie Cogan to offer its message of what America really is.

Taking place in what appears to be pre-election 2008 and in the midst of the countries’ financial crises, Killing Them Softly begins with Johnny Amato (Vincent Curatola) collaborating with Frankie (Scoot McNairy) and Russell (Ben Mendelsohn) to rob a criminal poker ring ran by Markie Trattman (Ray Liotta). The reason that they plan to rob Markie’s game is because he had previously robbed one of his own games so if it happens at one of his games again, the blame will immediately be put on him. Frankie and Russell successfully pull of the robbery and as planned, the person that receives the blame is Markie. This robbery though causes trouble for the mafia as no one is willing to participate in any poker rings. The mafia then hires hitman Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt) to restore order by killing the ones responsible for the robbery.

As the hitman, Jackie Cogan is not just pulling the trigger, he is also the voice of reason. With the films message being that America is not a ‘community’, Jackie is the character, really the only character that not only believes this, but truly lives by it. Jackie, in both his actions and words, says that in America everyone is on their own and with the way things play out in the film this holds true, causing Jackie to be the wise man, the man that is destined to come out on top. Unlike any other character, he stays level headed throughout and never waivers emotionally. Jackie is not just another character in the film, he basically is the film, as he is the message being presented. When a film relies on a character to carry its central theme, the performance of the character is crucial. Fortunately, Jackie was perfectly casted with the talents of Brad Pitt. Pitt is at his best when the character he plays is the one in control as he can project confidence quite well. Because of this he can take over a scene, something that the character of Jackie needs to do for not just the character to be successful but the film in general.

With that said though, Pitt does not give the only noteworthy performance of the film. James Gandolfini’s Mickey Fallon, a second hitman, is the polar opposite to Pitts’s Jackie. Mickey has the most revealed back story and his past affects him to the point that he is emotionally unstable. Gandolfini is solid in giving this persona to the character as the audience can see that this character is really hurting. Scoot McNairy as Frankie is also satisfying as his character has the biggest arc of any character. Frankie is cool, calm and collected before the robbery takes places but when and the robbery does not go as smooth as he had hoped and then when Jackie comes into to the picture, he becomes more and more frantic with each scene he appears in. McNairy is able to make this change interesting but not over the top. Richard Jenkins, an actor that I am starting to think can’t do wrong, delivers once again as Driver, an agent for the mafia. The film may be at its best when Pitt and Jenkins are in a car just talking as the dialogue is excellent.

Even though Killing Them Softly is a performance based film, director Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford) still manages to work in artful touches that cannot go without notice. The scenes that involve a murder are done in a style that makes them hard to take yours eyes off of. I will not reveal who is murdered but there is one scene in particular that I am not sure that it completely fits but is done so well, so cinematically that it is hard to complain. Dominick also chooses to lace the entire film with several audio or television clips of either George W. Bush or Barack Obama discussing the economic crises of the United States. These scenes help to stress the films focus on how America lives and dies on its economy.

Killing Them Softly, to say the least, is a bitter view of America. When really thinking about the message that it presents tough, is it really that far off? Is America dependent it on one another or is it dependent it on its economy? With the film being set in the midst of a financial crises, it forces one to think about how America would be during or after a financial crises if it did not rely so heavily on financial aspects. It is also a film that looks at how much control someone really has if they are not dependent on one’s self. This is seen in one way or another with every character in the film. For these reasons, Killing Them Softly will not go over well with the majority of its audience but it is a film that is a different look at America that happens to be cinematically well executed.   

Grade: A-     

                        

The Wonderful World of Q: The Best of the Films of Quentin Tarantino

The Weinstein Company

I have a theory that anyone who has seen a Quentin Tarantino film before can spot another one of his films without even knowing that he made it. The reason that I have this theory is that there is nothing like a Tarantino film. One entire scene may be of two laid back individuals quietly talking for several minutes and then the next may be a viscous, gory murder which could very well involve the same people that were just having the nice conversation. The thing that makes this so different but at the same time brilliant is Tarantino ability to combine the two described situations so seamlessly to the point that nothing ever feels out of place. This is not the only noteworthy aspect of Tarantino as I could go on and on about his characters dialogues and the way he give such a real feel to them along with how he can makes the simplest of ideas so interesting. The purpose of this article though is to highlight some of things that make such an impact in his films such as his music selections, the memorable moments and the characters he creates.

The Music        

Cat People (Putting Out Fire) by David Bowie (Inglourious Bastards): This is the song played right before the big theater scene. The lyrics of the chorus along with the vengeful tone of the song go so well with the plot to burn down the theater that Shosanna Dreyfus (Melanie Laurent) has.

Across 110^th Street by Bobby Womack (Jackie Brown): I love this song! In a film that has a throwback, 70’s appearance and feel to it, Tarantino’s choice to use Womack’s Across 110^th Street in the film’s final scene is brilliant. It also matches the persona and experiences of the lead character Jackie Brown in the film.

Stuck In The Middle With You by Stealers Wheel (Reservoir Dogs): The scene with this song present is probably my favorite scene in Reservoir Dogs, a film that is not one of my favorite of Tarantino’s (I know, everyone probably just lost all respect for me). Mr. Blonde dancing around and singing to Stuck In The Middle With You all while torturing a police officer tied to a chair is priceless. It is one of those signature scenes that made Tarantino Tarantino and probably could also make it into my best moment’s category as well.    

The Moments

Stuntman Mike talking about his little black book (Death Proof): I had not heard very many positive things about Death Proof prior to watching it and because of this, my expectations were somewhat low and could have to do with why I liked it so much. Even though the films true impact on me might be questionable, my enjoyment for Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell) explaining the book he keeps of everyone he ever meets is not. Stuntman Mike talks in such a confident, arrogant way, knowing exactly how to push someone’s buttons to get what he wants. Some of his dialect sounds just like that of John Wayne which just adds to an already memorable scene.

Fight scene between The Bride and Copperhead (Kill Bill: Vol. 1): It is the opening scene of Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and after its conclusion, maybe even during it, you know that you are in for one heck of a ride. The choreographing is great but the dialogue between The Bride (Uma Thurman) and Copperhead (Vivica A. Fox) is even better. The fact that neither of them want to fight in front of Copperhead’s daughter and that The Bride refuses to kill Copperhead in front of her daughter, even though she eventually does, makes for great dialogue like when The Bride says “It's mercy, compassion, and forgiveness I lack. Not rationality”. 

Vincent accidently shooting Marvin (Pulp Fiction): In my opinion, Pulp Fiction is Tarantino’s best and I could probably use any scene from it to put in this category but the scene where Vincent (John Travolta) accidently shoots Marvin (Phil LaMarr) comes to mind first. There is just something about Jules (Samuel L. Jackson), Vincent, and Marvin riding along in a car, hitting a bump when Vincent has a gun pointed at Marvin, causing him to pull the trigger is so unexpectedly funny. The best part though is Vincent’s calm response: “Oh man. I shot Marvin in the face”.

The Characters            

The Bride (Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Kill Bill Vol. 2): The Bride is such a driven, strong female character. She is out for revenge and she will not stop until everyone that wronged her is dead. She is driven by the fact that her unborn child was killed. Even though it is simple, it is such a compelling back story that forces the audiences to want to continue to follow this character and watch her get the revenge she seeks. She maintains focus throughout which is seen in an excellent performance by Uma Thurman.

Bill (Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Kill Bill Vol. 2): I was hooked on this character the second he responds to “How did you find me?” with simply “I’m the man”. Bill (David Carradine) remains this confidant man who is very good at keeping his cool and always having something profound to say. Tarantino films feature plenty of confident characters but the way that Bill’s persona never changes makes him a character that you never forget.         

Lt. Aldo Raine (Inglourious Bastards): Aldo (Brad Pitt) is unlike any other character in the Tarantino universe. Unlike a majority of Tarantino’s characters, Aldo does not have dialogue that has a touch of reality to it. Aldo is a much more exaggerated character with dialogue of the same nature. Initially you would think that this would stick out but it actually works quite well as he matches the outrageous premise of the film.

Honorable Mention: Stuntman Mike (Death Proof), Vincent Vega (Pulp Fiction), Melanie Ralston (Jackie Brown) and all other characters.     

Review: 'The Dark Knight Rises'

Warner Bros. Pictures

Before production even began, The Dark Night Rises was set up to fail. It is not easy being the third film of a trilogy. Not only does it have to work as a film, it has to successfully wrap the trilogy as a whole. If this was not enough already, The Dark Knight Rises has to follow The Dark Knight, a film you may have heard of. It all doesn’t seem fair but if any current film maker can pull it all off and create a film that is worthy of being part of this batman trilogy it is Christopher Nolan. The Dark Knight Rises and The Dark Knight has several similarities but also have just as many differences, if not more, so it is hard to say if The Dark Knight Rises fully lives up to its predecessor but Nolan has still managed to construct a satisfying film that offers a  redemption story with heart.

The Dark Knight Rises takes place eight years after the events that transpired in The Dark Knight. Criminal activity in Gotham City appears to be in check without Batman as Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has stayed tucked away in his mansion but in the words of Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) “There’s a storm coming”. The emergence of Bane (Tom Hardy) brings chaos back to the streets of Gotham, therefore forcing Bruce Wayne to become Batman again. Where The Dark Knight’s Joker had detailed, well thought out plans of chaos and was more of a psychological threat than a physical one Bane uses brute force to bring about chaos and physically, he is the strongest man in the room, giving him his credentials as a villain to fear.

The only complaint I have with this villain is the mask he wears and the sound of his voice. The nose and mouth of Bane is covered which is a shame because Tom Hardy can act; take his performance in Bronson for example. Facial expression help to get across what someone is saying and is an important element to a character. Bane suffers slightly from this not being a part of him. The voice that is given to Bane is digitally altered to the point that it is hard to make out what exactly he is saying throughout the film. It is also seems to be out of place as it is much louder than any other voice. Maybe it will sound better on Blu-ray and DVD.

The Christopher and Jonathan Nolan penned script is by no means weak and in no way hurts the film but lacks the impact their past scripts have had. The dialogue doesn’t seem to carry as much weight as it seems to be simple and too much is explained which is something you do not expect from this writing duo. The weakest dialogue seems to be given to Selina Kyle as it is at times extremely cheesy and sticks out as if it were written by Sylvester Stallone. I will say however that there is a monologue given by Alfred (Michael Caine) about his and Bruce Wayne’s future that is one of the best in Nolan’s entire filmography.

While on the subject of Michael Caine, it is important to note that this film is his most substantial turn as Bruce Wayne’s butler Alfred Pennyworth, both in screen time and importance. Caine is solid in a role that, from an emotional standpoint, shows the importance of not just Batman but Bruce Wayne. Alfred is not just saying that they are important to Gotham City but also saying that they are also very important to him personally. Given their history together, Bruce Wayne and Alfred have a special relationship and through the emotions of Alfred, this is put on display. Caine is able to convey these emotions in a heartfelt manor that gives the audience more to connect to.

In roles new to the trilogy, Anne Hathaway as the thief, Selina Kyle and Joseph Gordon Levitt as police officer John Blake hold their own and both play very important roles but the new comer that has the most impact is Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate. Cotillard is an actor that can effectively show so many emotions in her performance. Like he did in Inception with Mal, Nolan uses the attributes of Cotillard to enhance a character like Miranda Tate. Miranda is seen having emotions such as anger, control and fear and because of the talents of Cotillard the character really stands out and makes it hard not to find her interesting.

In a Nolan film, there is always something to support the action or intensity that is present and that something in The Dark Knight Rises is a story of redemption. I understand that this is nothing ground breaking but it is a relatable element in basically a fantasy film. This human touch is something that Nolan always manages to incorporate into his films and by doing so in a comic book adaption, he has made something that has been done over and over again new.

Grade: B+                           

Rank 'Em: Christopher Nolan Edition

In honor of The Dark Knight Rises arriving to Blu-ray and DVD today, I have decided to rank all eight feature films directed by Christopher Nolan. Throughout the past fifteen years Nolan has taken us on several thrilling journeys. A few of these journeys include being in a dream within a dream, a day in the life of a man with amnesia, and rivalry of two magicians. He has even breathed new life in to a comic book franchise. The thing that I find most impressive about Nolan is that his films are always of the suspense or action genre but he also manages to create a strong story with even stronger characters in his films.     

1. Inception (2010): If I were to create a list of the best films of 2010, Inception would, without a doubt, be in the number one spot. In fact, if I were to create this same type of list with films since 2000, Inception would probably find it’s self toward the top of that list, if not number one. I really would have to dig deep to find something about this film that I don’t like and even then my reasoning would be faulty. It would be easy to rely on the premise of being inside the dream of someone else but what makes Nolan such a successful filmmaker is that he never does this. In Inception, the already intriguing premise is supported by breath taking visuals, strong characters and dialogue, and a score from Hans Zimmer that matches the intensity of the film. The last forty five minutes or so take all of these assets to a higher level in a way that it could be used as the definition of cinematic. Nolan tells a story that is heavy in the physiological aspects of the mind through characters such as Cobb and Mal that are not just physiology complex individuals but also in their relationship and to me, this is Nolan’s most impressive feat in Inception.

2.The Dark Knight (2008): I went back and forth with this spot. Originally I had The Dark Knight Rises here and then I decided to put The Dark Knight ahead of it instead. The two could be considered interchangeable but for right now I have The Dark Knight at number two for three reasons: the character arc of Bruce Wayne/ Batman, Heath Ledgers portrayal of the Joker and the impact the film in general has had. I like how a confidant, arrogant and somewhat irresponsible Bruce Wayne/Batman realizes what a hero represents and that he has to put his duties as the protector of Gotham ahead of his personal image. Describing Heath Ledger’s performance as the films antagonist as nothing short of riveting is nothing new. It is a performance that has received an incredible amount of praise ever since the first pair of eyes saw it but if a performance ever deserved the praise it has gotten, it is this one. Ledger as the Joker is terrifying as he completely transforms himself and convinces you that he is beyond dangerous. As far as impact goes, The Dark Knight has had more than any other Nolan film. It was the reason that The Academy Awards went from five best picture nominations to ten after it did not receive a nomination in 2008. Comic book adaptions in general have also been influenced by this film as it has become the model for what constitutes as a worthy adaption.     

3. The Dark Knight Rises (2012): Like I said, this one could easily be in the number two spot but with only two viewings, I feel that  haven’t seen it enough to put it any higher than third. Where the The Dark Knight is heavy in the presentation of its villain, The Dark Knight Rises is heavy in emotional appeal. Call me what you want but I am a bit of a sucker for a story of redemption. It is a film that starts slow but offers a satisfying second half and an ending that wraps things up nicely even if it is somewhat on the cheesy side.

4. Memento (2000): When it comes to subject matter, Memento falls right behind Inception as far as Nolan’s most daring film but when it comes to filmmaking, Memento is easily the most daring. With scenes being backwards in order and certain ones being black and white it is such an ambitious film. Leonard Shelby (Guy Pierce), a man with amnesia, is a rich character that is just as unpredictable as the film. The scenes where Leonard is in the motel room talking on the phone is some of Nolan’s best work as the dialogue does so well at telling a story. I do feel though that its finale could have offered more.

5.The Prestige (2006): An adaption of the Christopher Priest’s novel of the same name, The Prestige tells the story of the rivalry between magicians Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) in 19^th century London. With it being set in the 1800’s, it’s not the modern story that usually is a part of a Nolan film but it still has his signature mind bending twist and turns. I was blown away by this film, especially its finale, when I first saw it six years ago. I have watched it twice since and have enjoyed it less each time. I think that it may have to do with a lot of its success coming from its twist and once you know what the twist is, the film cannot have the same effect.                                                                                                                                                                     

6. Batman Begins (2005): I have tried to like this film more than I do and don’t get me wrong it is a very well done comic book adaption but there is nothing that really stands out that makes me say ‘wow!’ like the Joker does in The Dark Knight or the way redemption is handled in The Dark Knight Rises. I really enjoyed the origin story of Bruce Wayne becoming Batman in the first half of the film but it feels a bit farfetched when Batman has to save the day and gets away from the realistic feel that the first half, along with the rest of the trilogy had.                       

7. Insomnia (2002): A remake of the Norwegian film of the same name, Insomnia is about two detectives from Los Angeles (Al Pacino and Hilary Swank) sent to Alaska to investigate the murder of a teenager. This is all happening when the sun never sets which makes for an interesting plot device but does not deliver the grand finale that it is anticipated. Nolan does a nice job of building tension and setting up for an explosive climax but the story then goes flat as things are revealed in a way that ends the tension without any kind of reward. On a more positive note though, the Alaskan backdrop is beautiful and the chase scene that takes place in the fog is very cool. Maybe I will enjoy this film more as time goes by and able to watch it multiple times. It probably did not help that my first viewing was right after I watched Memento.                                                                                  

8. Following (1998): Nolan’s first feature film focuses on a writer who follows strangers for writing material. The biggest problem I have with this movie is the pacing as it moves so fast that there is no time to let any kind of tension to build. The dialogue also does not match this ultra-fast pace. I will say however that I really like the character, Cobb (Alex Haw), the films antagonist due to how confident and in control he is. With a running time of around seventy minutes, it is an easy watch so if you are a Nolan fan you should give it a chance and see where it all began.                            

Now it is your turn. Where do you rank the films of Christopher Nolan?   

December Movie Releases

Filmdistrict/Warner Bros. Pictures/Paramount Pictures/Universal Pictures/The  Weinstein Co.

December7                                                                                                                                                                                                   The year’s final month kicks offs with three releases at the cinema. If you’re looking for an all-star cast look no farther than Playing for Keeps. The Gabriele Muccino (The Pursuit of Happyness) directed film stars Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Judy Greer, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Uma Thurman and Dennis Quaid. In Playing for Keeps, Butler plays an ex-sports star who tries to get his life back on track by coaching his son’s soccer team.

Competing against Playing for Keeps is the gambling comedy, Lay the Favorite which also offers a star studded cast in the form of Bruce Willis, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Rebecca Hall and Joshua Jackson. Also opening this week is Hyde Park on Hudson in a limited release. The film stars Bill Murray as President Franklin D. Roosevelt and focuses on his relationship with his distant cousin Margaret Suckley (Laura Linney).

December 14                                                                                                                                                                                If you are someone who like to have options when it comes to theater visits than this is not your week as there is only one new release but with that release being The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, I can understand why no studio wants to release a film this week. The Hobbit will a be box office monster as it will easily be the highest grossing film of December and could even pass The Avengers $1.5 billion for the highest grossing film of the year. Personally, I think The Avengers number is safe but I will not be surprised if The Hobbit crosses the billion dollar mark. It will also be interesting to see what kind of critical reception it receives which will help determine if it will be a major awards contender.

December 19                                                                                                                                                                                                       If early buzz is any indication, the three movies receiving a special Wednesday release is the first half of what looks to be a huge week of releases.  In The Guilt Trip, inventor Andy Brewster (Seth Rogan) takes his mother Joyce (Barbara Streisand) on the road with him as he attempts to sell his new invention. 

If you prefer drama over comedy, you don’t have to worry as there is plenty of that opening on this day as well. Written and directed by Michael Haneke, Amour looks at how age and illness affects the relationship of elderly couple George (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne (Emmanuella Riva). The French film looks to be a lock for an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Film.

Also looking to make a splash at the Academy Awards is Kathryn Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty (limited release), a film that focuses on the United States hunt for Osama bin Laden. Bigelow’s last film, The Hurt Locker, took home six academy awards including Best Picture and Best Director and as Zero Dark Thirty is receiving praise from critics who have seen the film, it could also be a major winner come February.

December 21                                                                                                                                                                                         Historically, the Friday before Christmas has been known to be loaded with releases and this year is no exception as there is six movies arriving to theaters. The mesmerizing choreographing of Cirque du Soleil finds its way to the big screen with Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away in 3D. With Valkyrie and Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol , Tom Cruise has been a part of holiday releases before and this year he is back as the title character in Jack Reacher. The Impossible, staring Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts, is about a family that is affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Set in 1960’s New Jersey, Not Fade Away is the story of a group of friends that attempt to find success by forming a band.

An adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s novel of the same name, On the Road tells the story of Sal Paradise (Sam Riley) and his travels with Dean Moriarty (Garrett Hedlund) and his girlfriend Marylou (Kristen Stewart). With its tagline being “The sort-of sequel to Knocked Up”, This Is 40 revisits the marriage of Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann), the couple from 2007’s Knocked Up.

December 25                                                                                                                                                                                     Christmas day’s three releases offer a little something for everyone. Billy Crystal and Bette Midler are Grandparents in Parental Guidance. In this family comedy, chaos ensues when Artie (Crystal) and Diane (Midler) agree to watch over their grandchildren.

 If you are looking for something a little less family friendly, Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained is where you will find it. Yes, I doubt that this will be one to take the kids too based on Tarantino’s style but, boy; the man is good at his craft. Out of all of the December releases, this is the one that I am looking forward to the most. It should have a solid run at that box office but also could make some noise during awards season. Tarantino’s films aren’t really what the Academy tends to lean towards so a Best Picture win is unlikely but as he is a master with words and his films are always rich in dialogue, he has won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay with Pulp Fiction and nominated for Inglorious Bastards so it is not crazy to consider him a major contender when it comes to Best Screenplay.

Speaking of Academy Awards, Tom Hooper’s Les Miserables also hits theaters this Christmas. The musical, staring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway, is being considered a major contender for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Few have seen it so only time will tell if it is a true contender but if it is able to live up to the hype and win Best picture, it will first film with a Christmas release date to win Best Picture since My Fair Lady in 1964.

December 28                                                                                                                                                                                       The final Friday of 2012 features two limited releases. Dustin Hoffman steps behind the camera to direct Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly, Michael Gambon, Tom Courtenay and Pauline Collins in Quartet. Also in a limited release, Promised Land features a familiar director/writer duo in Gus Van Sant and Matt Damon. Good Will Hunting also featured Van Sant as its director and Damon as one of its writers.